SO NOW WHAT'S BRUIN?

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH

With UCLA's crash-'n-burn mission heading into the NCAA tourney complete, how much howling does Ben Howland have to do to get his accomplished squad of Pacific-10 Conference champions refocused on the big picture? Or would bringing John Wooden out to a practice next week to impart some quiet pyramid power be the next step to avoiding another major misstep when it's time for one-and-done?

How does Arron Afflalo follow up that Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year (lack of) performance?

Why even try to predict who'll end up as the No. 1 seeds for The Big Ol' Dance when it all changes faster than the lineup on "Dancing with the Stars"?

Has the hurricane that Pokey Chatman created at LSU the only reason why anyone will pay any attention to the women's NCAA tourney?

Even if we were to use the Modified Stableford System, how does it add up that Tiger Woods can effectively kill the PGA's International tournament in Denver by not participating in it, but then be willing to host his own event, on the same weekend as the one he helped sink, and have the proceeds fund his latest learning center endeavor?

Is there any reason why the worldwide leader in Niketown doesn't just break away and start his own Tiger Tour?

Anyone heard a hormonal peep out of Gary Matthews Jr., yet? Do you believe his dad when he says he hasn't asked junior about whether or not he bought the stuff?

When you come to the decision that it's necessary to go out and hire O.J.'s lawyer to get you out of a mess, wouldn't that be just another Angel-colored-red flag that this'll need to go beyond the usual means of damage control?

Why doesn't Arte Moreno invoke the lemon law clause, negate the deal and get his $50 mil back? Or does he think he can still squeeze some lemonade out of this?

Is there something wrong with the mechanism by which NBA rosters are constructed that a team (i.e.: The Lakers) could actually remotely consider adding Scottie Pippen to its triangular mix at this stage of the campaign?

David Beckham sprained a knee? How does the Galaxy keep that news away from potential season-ticket holders?

Has Kobe Bryant considered buying the NBA Task Force on Flailing Arms a diamond ring or two to curb their enthusiasm?

Do the Tampa Bay Bucs really need another quarterback?

When does someone inform Dominick Rhodes that the road he's voluntarily taken from the Super Bowl champions leads to the lameness of Lane Kiffin?

Any chance that with all this global warming stuff, the entire Iditarod eventually turns into a big pile of mush?

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